I'm getting Error 0x80073701 when trying to remove Windows Defender from Windows Server 2016 features.

Question

I'm getting Error 0x80073701 when trying to remove Windows Defender from Windows Server 2016 features.

I did investigation related to this error.

From the logs I read in - "%windir%\logs\cbs" I can see there is a missing update from 2021 which is - 2021-01 Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2016 for x64-based Systems (KB4598243)

Unfortunately I cannot download and install it manually because - "IMPORTANT As of 8/5/2021, this KB is no longer available from Windows Update, the Microsoft Update Catalog, or other release channels. We recommend that you update your devices to the latest security quality update."

The server is up to date and I still can't remove it even after the latest security quality update is installed.

Just to make it clear : Windows Defender is currently disabled but cannot be removed. I have to remove it completely from the server. ( Powershell Command for uninstall is giving me the same error code as the server manager. )

I would be very grateful if somebody tell me from where I can get the update or is there a workaround related to this issue.

Thanks in advice. :)

Answer 1

Hi Slavomir Slepov,

To resolve error, please run these commands as an administrator in the Command Prompt:

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /SCANHEALTH

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /CHECKHEALTH

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH

Sfc /Scannow

Kind regards,

Lei

Answer 2

Hi Lei Tao,

Thank you for the provided information.

The commands :

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /SCANHEALTH

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /CHECKHEALTH

Are completing successfully but I'm getting Error: 0x800f081f when I run 'DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH'.

After typing 'Sfc /Scannow' I'm getting error again : 

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some

of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For

example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

Then I checked the CBS.log again after I used the commands and the errors were the same. :

2024-01-19 03:56:12, Info CBS Failed to resolve execution chain. [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]

2024-01-19 03:56:12, Error CBS Failed to process single phase execution. [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]

2024-01-19 03:56:21, Info CBS Exec: Processing complete. Session: 31083189_1344997319, Package: Microsoft-Windows-Foundation-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0 [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]

2024-01-19 03:56:31, Error CBS Failed to perform operation. [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2024-01-19 03:56:31, Info CBS Session: 31083189_1344997319 finalized. Reboot required: no [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]

2024-01-19 03:56:31, Info CBS Failed to FinalizeEx using worker session [HRESULT = 0x80073701]

I restarted the server after using the provided commands, but still nothing changes.

Answer 3

Hi Slavomir Slepov,

Please try the following steps:

1. Run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool again with the following command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1 /LimitAccess

Note: Replace X with the drive letter where your Windows Server installation media is located.

2. After the DISM tool completes the repair process, run the System File Checker (SFC) tool again with the following command:

SFC /Scannow

3. If the issue persists, you can try to repair the Windows Server installation using the installation media. Boot from the installation media and select the "Repair your computer" option.